Africa-Press – Liberia. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has officially relieved Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan of his position as Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). Also dismissed is NPHIL’s Deputy Director General for Administration, Dr. Adams K. Lincoln.
According to the Executive Mansion, the decision, attributed to “administrative reasons”, is part of the President’s broader commitment to effective leadership, accountability, and institutional efficiency.
Dr. Nyan was appointed to head NPHIL in August 2024, following a rigorous vetting process carried out by the NPHIL Board of Directors. His appointment was widely praised at the time, given his background in biomedical science and infectious disease control.
However, barely a year into his tenure, NPHIL became engulfed in a series of damaging scandals that drew criticism from stakeholders, international partners, and the public.
One of the most high-profile controversies under Dr. Nyan’s leadership was the misuse and theft of government vehicles. An internal investigation revealed that several staff at NPHIL were involved in the unauthorized removal, disposal, and even illegal sale of official vehicles.
As a result, George Watson and Pewee Quaqua, two senior staff members, were dismissed. Other staff, including drivers and logistics personnel, were suspended. While Dr. Adams K. Lincoln, the now-dismissed Deputy Director General, was implicated in allegedly producing fake GSA documents to claim ownership of agency vehicles.
The situation escalated when the NPHIL Board of Directors recommended a one-month suspension without pay for Dr. Nyan, citing multiple violations of the NPHIL Act.
According to the Board, Dr. Nyan bypassed established governance structures, submitted uncoordinated budgets, engaged in unauthorized communications with external stakeholders, and operated with a lack of transparency in institutional management.
These issues strained the relationship between NPHIL leadership and its oversight bodies, eventually leading to the President’s intervention.
Further tension arose between NPHIL and the Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Louise Kpoto, over who has authority to declare public health outbreaks.
Minister Kpoto criticized NPHIL for making announcements about suspected outbreaks without the Ministry’s approval, raising questions about coordination and communication between the two key public health bodies.
NPHIL pushed back, maintaining that monitoring and reporting on emerging health threats is central to its legal mandate.
Another major concern was the quality and accuracy of data being released by the Institute. This led to the suspension of Dr. Ralph Jetoh, Director of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, without pay.
The move followed complaints from international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC, both of which raised alarms about substandard and inaccurate reports being issued by NPHIL under Dr. Nyan’s leadership.
In a separate but related incident, nine NPHIL employees on approved study leave abroad were reportedly removed from the agency’s payroll. Allegations emerged suggesting the move may have been retaliatory, particularly due to links with individuals involved in the vehicle theft scandal, notably Pewee Quaqua.
This development has further fueled concerns about internal politics and mismanagement within the agency.
With the removal of Dr. Nyan and Dr. Lincoln, President Boakai has appointed Dr. Sia Wata Camanor as Interim Director General (Officer-in-Charge) of NPHIL.
The Executive Mansion says, “Dr. Camanor is to coordinate and work collaboratively with the NPHIL Board, the Ministry of Health, other government agencies, and partners to ensure the Institute’s stability and continuity of operations until a new Director General is recruited.”
Dr. Camanor is a seasoned health professional and is expected to help restore public and partner confidence in the Institute’s ability to manage disease surveillance and response.
In light of these sweeping changes, the government emphasized its intent to rebuild and strengthen NPHIL as a cornerstone of Liberia’s public health infrastructure.
“These actions by the President are consistent with his commitment to fostering effective leadership, accountability, and institutional efficiency across all sectors of government,” the release concluded.
Liberia continues to battle public health challenges, from emerging disease outbreaks to health infrastructure gaps. The future direction of NPHIL under new leadership will be closely watched by citizens, partners, and regional observers alike, as the Institute cannot operate in isolation from the national and global health communities.
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